It’s Monday of Holy Week 2022 and for the first time in twenty-five years, I have no sermons to write, bulletins to proof, schedules to review. Time is expansive. I’m afloat on the open ocean, adrift at sea.
Lingering over freshly brewed morning coffee, my eyes rest on our back yard. Jonquils, tulips, columbine are in bloom, the peony buds clenched from opening just yet. Lenten roses are flourishing and faint hints of pink are spotted on the azalea bushes by the fish pond.
At the birdfeeders starlings, finches, cardinals and Carolina wrens feast on seed and suet. A pesky squirrel runs up a feeder, hangs upside down and pursues his own breakfast portion. And then a rare bunny rabbit hops into our yard.
Wandering toward the back stone path, this brown bunny stops still in front of our St. Francis statue. Minutes pass and she doesn’t move. I find this fascinating. It is as though she is praying and communing with St. Francis.
When our beloved fourteen-year-old lab rescue, Ruby, died just after we moved into this cottage two years ago with its small yet beautiful three-season perennial garden, we buried Ruby’s ashes there by St. Francis. Did the rabbit somehow know this is hallowed ground? Was this beloved creature of God actually pausing to pray, to pay her respects, to acknowledge life and death?
I’ll never know the mind of this rabbit and yet what it’s done for me this day, is call me to prayer. Call me to slow down, to cherish this time of expanse, to enjoy being adrift. With all the war crimes, racial injustices, chaos and turmoil in this world, there is a peaceable kingdom here in our backyard, if I will but stop, see and pray.
The sorrow of Holy Week will unfold for us later this week as Christians we walk with Jesus from his triumphant entry into Jerusalem yesterday, to the Last Supper with his disciples, to betrayal and denial, to the cross and his death by crucifixion. Even with knowing Easter Sunday morning is waiting on the other side with resurrection and new life, it will be a hard week.
The grace of today from a God who loves me is this bunny rabbit who came hopping into our backyard inspiring me to write this reflection and to pray—to pray for the world and for colleagues who are in the throes of final preparations for Holy Week.